Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-15
WON SIT ST. ! LOUIS.
fext Of the Presid sntasIettsr Declinins the n.
vitation to b To City's Guest In Septem.
~ hAf.


fext Of the Pre1idsntasIetter Declining the n
vitation to b To City's Guest In septem.
Hs Would 10 Nothing to Disturb the Harnoay
Of the 9. 4. 3. Han 1t Thsir Encam y
%s ment. So 81 &
. WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, July T.
The following letter from President Ceve-
land to the mayor OF St. Louis. who was
the chairman Of the committee OF citizens
who invited the president to visit ST. Louis
during the holding OF the encampment OF
the Grand Army OF the Republic. in Sep
tember, is published to-day:
Executive Mansion, Washington, July 4.
Hon. David r. Francis, Mayor and
Chairman Dear Sir: When received the
from the citizens OF st. Louis, rendered by
a number OF her representative men, to
visit that city during the national encamp-
ment OF the Grand Army OF the Republic,
had been contemp plating for some time
the acceptance Of the invitation from that
organization to the same effect oud had
considered the pleasure which it would at
ford me il it should he possible to meet.
not only members of the Grand Army, but
the people of st. Louis and other cities
in the West which occasion would give
me an opportunity to visit. Thee xactions
OF my public duties l feel to be so uncer-
tain, however. that when first confronted
by the delegation, OF which you were the
head, 7 expected to do no more at that
time than to promise consideration Of the
double invitation rendered me- and to ex-
press the pleasure it would give me to &C
cept the same thereafter, ii possible. But
the cordiality and sincerity OF your pres
entation, reinforced by the heartiness OF
the people who surrounded you, SO i'm
pressed me that could not resist the feel
ing which prompted me to assure you on
the spot that would be with, you and the
Grand Army OF the Republic at the time
then designated, if nothing happened
in the meantime to absolutely prevent
my leaving Washington. Immediately up
on the public announcement OF this con-
clusion, expressions emanating from GER
tain important members OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic and increasing in
volume and virulence, constrained me to
review my acceptance of these invitations.
The expressions referred to 60 to the ex-
tent OF declaring that would be an I'm.
welcome guest at the time and place of the
national encampment. This statement is
based as we'll as / can judge, upon certain
official acts OF mine involving important
public interests, lone under the restraints
and obligations OF my oath OF office, which
do not appear to accord with the wishes Of
some members OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. I refuse to believe that this or
ganization, founded upon patriotic ideas,
composed very largely OF men entitled to
lasting honor and consideration, and
whose crowning glory it should be that
they are American citizens as we'll as sold
iers, deems it a. part OF it's mission to
compass any object or purpose by at
tempting to
INTIMIDATE THE EXECUTIVE
or coerce those charged with making and
executing the laws; and yet, the expressi ons
to which have referred Indicate such a
prevalence of unfriendly feeling and such a
menace to an occasion which should be
harmonious, peaceful and cordial, that
they can not be ignored. I beg you to un-
derstand that am not conscious OF any
act OF mine which should make me fear to
meet the Grand Army OF the Republic or
any other assemblage Of my fellow citizens.
The account OF my official stewardship is
always ready Tor presentation to my coun-
trymen. should not be frank if | Jailed
to confess, while disclaiming all resentment,
that have been hurt by those unworthy
and wanton attacks upon me, growing out
of this matter, and the reckless manner in
which my actions and motives have been
misrepre sex tad, both publicly and private
ly-for which, however, the Grand Army
OF the Republic as body, is not RESPONSE
BILE. Threats OF personal violence and
harm in case take the trip in question.
which scores ofmisguided, unbalanced men,
under stimulation of excited feeling,
have made--are not even considered. Rath-
er than abandon my visit to the West and
disappoint your citizens, might if alone
were concerned, submit to insult to which,
it is quite openly asserted, I would be help
lessly subjected if present ut the encamp-
ment, but should bear with me there the
peoples highest office, the dignity OF which
the Grand Army OF the Republic, as an Or.
ganization, nor anything like q majority
OF it's members, would ever encourage any
scandalous attack upon it. II. how
ever, among the membership of this
body there are some, as certainly seems
to be the case, determined to de-
nounce me and my official acts at the ma
tional encampnent, believe they should
be permitted to do so unrestrained by my
presence as the guest OF their organization,
or the guest Of the hospitable city in which
oHeii MeebAuS - Aelu. "a uuIAOef VI ouo
Grand Army posts have signited their in
tention, am informed, to remain away
from the encampment in case visit the
city at that time.
10TH TO CAUSE TROUBLE.
Without considering the merit Of such an
excuse: feel that I ought not to be the
cause of such non attendance. The time
and place of the encampment were
fixed long before my invitations were
received. Those desiring to par
ticipate in its proceedings should be first
regarded. and n o being should be permitted
to interfere with their Intentions. Another
consideration, Of more Importance than
all others, remains to- be noticed The
baliy presented the invitation OF the citi.
zens of st. Louis. that the coming encamp.
ment OF the Grand Army OF the Republic
would be the first held in Southern state.
l suppose the tact was mentioned as a
pleasing indiction OF the fraternal feeling
so fast gaining ground throughout the
entire land, and hailed by every
patriotic citizen as an earnest that
the Union has really. and in fact, been
saved in the sentiment and spirit, with all
the benefits it vouchsafes to united peo-
pie. I cannot rid myself of the belief that
the least discord on this propitious oc-
casion might reGard bhe progress OF the
sentiment OF common brotherhood. which
the Grand Army OF the Republic has SO
good an opportunity to increase and fos-
ter. ! certainly ought not to be the cause
OF such discord. in any event or upon any
pretext. It seems to me that you and the
citizens OF st. Louis are entitled to this
unreserved statement Of conditions which
has constrained me to forego my con-
templated visit. and to withdraw my ac-
ceptance of your invitation. My pres
.ence in your city at the time you
have indicated can be 81 but little moment
compared with tho Importance OF the cor.
dial and harmonious entertainment OF
yonr other guests. I assure you that
abandon my plan without the least per-
sonal feeling except regret, constrained
thereto by sense Of duty actuated by q
desire to save any embarrassment to the
.xaenraia 81 z. 81. orig tha;x +oxa